Security Increased At Haunted House

Streamwood Cops Say Alleged Sex Abuser Admitted Guilt

Security will be increased at a Streamwood haunted house attraction where a volunteer has been accused of fondling a girl, a spokeswoman for the Streamwood Jaycees said Tuesday.

Rhonda Daniel Foss, a former president of the 25-member chapter, said the alleged incident could be devastating for the organization.

"We are all volunteers. I'm very upset that this has happened--we are all upset. We do not condone this kind of treatment," she said.

A 14-year-old girl told Streamwood police that a volunteer at the haunted house fondled her over her clothing while she was going through the attraction with a group of friends Saturday night.

Streamwood police on Sunday charged William D. Spyrison, 30, of Des Plaines, with one count of criminal sexual abuse, a misdemeanor. Spyrison is free on bond.

Spyrison's father, also named William, has criticized the Streamwood police for not conducting a thorough investigation. But on Tuesday police officials defended their work.

"They did a comprehensive investigation and spoke with anyone who may have seen it," said Streamwood Sgt. Ed Valente. "And in fact, there were several witnesses who did come forward."

In addition, on Sunday "(Spyrison) made an admission to this act, which certainly cemented our case," Valente said.

Streamwood police had said that Spyrison did not have a criminal record. But records show that Spyrison did plead guilty in 1988 to a misdemeanor theft charge and was fined and received supervision.

Valente said that incident may have been recorded only as an arrest and not as a conviction, leaving Spyrison's record clean.

The criminal allegation has sent shockwaves through the tiny Jaycees organization, which has operated the haunted house for the last nine years. The Streamwood Chamber of Commerce and the Junior Women's League are also sponsors of the event.

"This could close down our chapter," Daniel Foss said.

The group has not run background checks on volunteers, because in previous years the only volunteers were fellow Jaycees, she said.

"These are responsible adults. But this year we had a few extra volunteers," she said.

Spyrison was introduced to the Streamwood Jaycees as a fellow Jaycee from another town who had run haunted houses, she said. Daniel Foss said her group has learned that Spyrison's Jaycees membership has lapsed.

The group is calling out all of its members to patrol the house, which is held in a vacant storefront at 237 E. Irving Park Road. The attraction will be open as scheduled Wednesday through Sunday, she said, but there will be more Jaycees on hand.